Snowplow



Feb. 21, 1950 I L WENNER 2,498,470

SNOWPLOW Filed Jan. 15, 1948 INVENTOR ATTORN E 5 Patented Feb. 21, 1950 UN 1 TED STATES PATENT OFFICE SNOWPLOW "Ira RIWenner, SycamoraiOhio ApplicationJanuary 13, 1948,'Serial;N 0. 121160 1'8I'Claims.

.1 .This invention relates to .snow plows, especially to a convertiblesnow .plow .thathas a pusher plate associated therewith and adapted for manual propulsion when used .as a .snowpusher plate and adapted .for attachment to. mechanical to provide; a .new and improved snowjjplowthat is characterized;bylits.-ready convertibility for use as a manuallyipropelledsnowshoveltor pusher.

Another object of the invention is to .provide a sturdy, low ,costrsnow plow.

:A further object of the invention is to provide a snow plow zbladeswhich'has a .curved lowerrsection that is adapted to be --sprunginto .engagement witha snowjpusher plate.

'Another object: of the invention isto provide a snow plow that :can he .slid .into engagement with a-snow; pusher plate and be locked intosengagement therewith in any desiredmanner.

A further object of theinvention 'is to provide a ,snowplow which isfadapted to ipermitsnowto slide into engagement therewith ,upon initial movement of the snow plow.

Another :object of the invention is .to 'provide a snow plow with a relatively bluntlower :edge to permit the plow to slide freely over a .lawn,

loose-pebbles or the like, without engaging therewith.

The foregoing .and other .objects :andadvantages of :the invention-will be made apparent as the specification proceeds.

Attention is directed .to the .-.accompanying drawings, wherein:

,Fig. 1 is=a perspective *vieww'of a .snowgplow-embodying the-principlesof the invention;

Fig. 2 is aside :elevation of thesnowpplowaof Fig. 1;

Figs. v3 and 4 are fragmentary .vertical sections taken :onlines .3- 3 and 4-4 "of v Fig.1

Fig. .5 ;is .a side'elevation indicating-one method of assembly of thesnow'plowof Fig.1.; and

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the snowplowblade -f the invention.

@Referringnowto the detailsof the structure shown in the accompanying drawings, a snow .plow .indicated generally by the numeral -I0 is shown anditprimarily comprises a pusherplate ll and a plow'blade 12. The pusher plate H .is -of generallyrectangular shape and is curved inrwardly from its lower .to its upper edge. ;.pusher plate II is formed fromanyconventional The material,such as steel and it has ea handle J3 secured thereto .by .means of .a backing sheet or .mounting bracket I I4 that ,is riveted .or otherwise secured to the pusher plate. The handle .13 .may

.be formed .i-rom any desired material anditmay be provided :with any conventional attachment means 'for securing it to a tractor or;- other prime .mover, :as hereinafter explained. For ordinary use of the .pusher plate I I, as asnow-shovelor pusher, the, handle l3 provides amanual .control elementior this ,portion of the snow plow In which isladapted for use: as aseparateelement.

As asalient feature of the present invention,

- the plow blade l2 is. removablyassociated with the ,pusher plate [1 -so that the blademay be .removedand the pusher plate used by itself for snow moving functions. provided with .a .rearwardly .turned lower edge Theplow blade 12 is strip "[5 that extends the length of the plowblade .onitslower surface. The lower portion of the plowiblade 12. is of {curved-shape, similar to the pusher plate I] only of a smaller radius of curvature, asbestindicated in Fig. 6, which shows the v.normal position -.of the plow blade whennot subjected .to external forces.

The upper .portion of the. plowblade 12, as indicated at I6, is substantially flat withtheupper edge .of theplowblade .beingturned over .at II to provide an edge re- ..inforcing and gripping portion for the plow blade. .To .facilitate engagement of the plow blade vl2 with pusher plate I.I,-a. second engagingstrip l8 .issecured to the back surface of the plow blade l2. This engaging or mounting strip I8 is of generallyinverted U-shape in section andit ex- -tcndstransversely of theplow 10 in parallel relationshipwith :the edge strip l5, but spaced an appreciable .distancetherefrom whereby pusher ,plate I I canbereceivedbetweentheatwo verticallyispacedlstrips 15 and I8. Normally, the 'plow ..blade l2i-is:formed from sheet steel or other'suit- .able material .and has aslight' resiliency in that .itcanbe partially flattened out by. tensional stress applied thereto. in. the direction of curvature of .theplow blade.

Normally thehplow blade 1-2 is assembledon the gpusher plate-Hrby-engagingrthe edge strip [5 of the plow blade with the lower edge of the pusher plate, then the plow blade may be placed on its face and the pusher plate II can be compressed down against the plow blade so as to flatten same out. At the same time, the edge strip II may be grasped and pulled outwardly of the plow to aid in flattening the plow blade I2 and in springing the engaging strip I8 over and into engagement with the upper edge portion of the pusher plate; The plow blade I2 is disassembled fromthe pusher plate by a reversal of the above process wherein the plow blade is again partially straightened out to snap the engaging strip I8 off of the edge of the pusher plate.

In some instances, it may be desirable to have a special reinforcement on the lower edge of the plow blade I2 and a separate reinforcing member- 1. A snow plow comprising a concave snow pusher plate, a handle, a bracket securing said handle to the rear surface of said pusher plate, a plow blade of appreciably greater height and width than said pusher plate, said plow blade being provided with a concave lower section and a substantially planar upper portion, said plow blade being adapted to be flattened slightly by an ,externalforce for-temporarily lengthening same slightly and having a rearwardly turned lower edge adapted to engage with the lower edge U-shaped engaging strip secured to the rear portion of said plow blade and extending transversely I9 is shown associated therewith i and secured thereto in any desired manner, as by spot welding.

ciated portions thereof and this different curvature will aid in retaining the two members in engagement. It also is within the scope of the present invention to have the plow blade I2 formed of relatively heavy rigid sheet metal whereby in such instances the plow blade would be slid into engagement with the pusher plate II by relative lateral movement thereof. Any desired locking lugs or bars couldbe associated with the plow blade for preventing relative movement between it and the pusher plate after they are once assembled.

It will be understood that in talking about the use of the snow plow, it normally is adapted for being positioned at an angle of about 90 with relation to the direction of movement of the same so that the snow is gathered up before the plow and then pushed over to the side of the plow and out of engagement with the plow. Figs. 2 and 6 of the invention show that the lower edge portion of the snow plow of the invention when assembled has a very gradual inclination. This inclination preferably is about one inch vertically in the first three inches of length of the snow plow, which construction facilitates the starting movement of the snow plow when engaged in relatively deep snow.

Fig. 5 of the drawing, as stated hereinbefore,

shows one method of springing the plow blade I2 into engagement with the pusher plate II. 'In

this instance, it is shown where the plow blade is primarily being lifted by hand so as to snap its by tension exerted through the flanged upper edge I! of the plow blade.

Fig. 5 shows that the plate II normally is of a greater radius of curvature than the blade I2 while Fig. 2 shows that the blade I2 ma bend the plate I I slightly inwardly by engaging therewith so that the assembly has a curvature intermediate that of the blade I2 or plate II alone. While one complete embodiment of the invention hasbeen disclosed herein, it will be appreciated that modification of this particular embodiment of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

, Having thus described by invention, what I claim is: 1

thereof at about the middle thereof, said engaging strip being adapted to be sprung into engagement-with the top edge of said pusher plate by flattening same whereby said plow blade can be removably associated with said pusher plate.

2. A snow plow comprising a snow pusher plate which is curved in vertical section, a handle, a

bracket securing said handle to the rear surface of said pusher plate, a plow blade of appreciably greater height and width than said pusher plate, said plow blade being provided with a concave lower section and a substantially planar upper portion which has a reinforcing edge thereon, said plow blade having a rearwardly turned lower edge adapted to engage with the lower edge of said pusher plate, and an inverted substantially U-shaped engaging strip secured to the rear portion of said plow blade and extending transversely thereof at about the middle thereof, said engaging strip being adapted to engage with the top edge of said pusher plate whereby said plow blade can be removably associated with said pusher plate.

3. A snow plow comprising a concave snow pusher plate, a handle secured to the rear surface of said pusher plate, a plow blade of appreciably greater height and width than said pusher plate, said plow blade being provided with a concave lower section, said plow blade having a rearwardly turned lower edge adapted to engage with the lower edge of said pusher plate, and an inverted substantially U-shaped engaging strip secured to the rear portion of said plow blade and extending transversely thereof at about the middle thereof, said engaging strip being adapted to engage with the top edge of said pusher plate when said plow blade is flattened to elongate same slightly.

4. A snow plow apparatus comprising a pusher 1 plate having ahandle secured thereto, a plow blade which is larger than said pusher plate and 1 5. A snow plow apparatus comprising a pusher plate having a handle secured thereto, a plow blade which is slightly concave in vertical section in at least a portion of its vertical length, and substantially U-shaped strip means associated with vertically spaced parallel portions of said plow blade on the rear surface thereof, said strip means being positioned in opposed relation with the open ends thereof adjacent each other for engagement with opposed vertically spaced edges of said pusher plate.

6. A snow plow apparatus comprising a pusher 5 '6 plate having a, handle secured thereto, a plow I REFERENCES CITED blade which is slightly arcuate in vertical section, and substantially U-shaped strip means associated The fOHOWmg references e o record in the with spaced portions of said plow blade on the file of this Patent:

rear surface thereof for engaging with the edges 5 of said pusher plate and removably securing said UNITED STATES PATENTS plow blade thereto. Number Name Date 7. A snow plow as in claim 4 wherein a rein- 1,307,328 Van Valkenburg June 17, 1919 forcing strip is secured to the outer surface of the 1,319,306 Rogers Oct. 21, 1919 lower edge of said plow blade to provide a blunt 10 surface therefor.

8. A snow plow as in claim 6 wherein said plow blade has a very gradual upward curve in its first several inches of length.

IRA R. WENN'ER. 

